Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis is my first read in the genre of comical book. It introduced me to a very intelligent way of writing, where graphics are used to nonchalantly communicate very thought provoking literature without being too heavy on the readers, yet aptly conveying the precise message.

It is an comical autobiography of Marjane Satrapi, a young girl in Iran during and after Islamic revolution. Through this comical style, Marjane has used both powerful words and visual graphics as a language to describe the situation of a country being constantly under revolution & war and how it tears apart the lives the people.

The title "Persepolis" is a reference to the ancient capital of Persian empire, which I feel is also indicative to Marjane's thoughts on how a beautiful old civilization is destroyed by multiple revolutions and religious extremism.

Questioning religious extremism and dealing with the dilemma of loving her country but not what it has become under new regime, through child like innocence, sets this book apart from the rest of the books of similar genres.

The story starts with Marjane's (Marji's) life as a student changing at the start of Islamic revolution in Iran. Moving from co-ed school to all girls school, struggling with the veil, and not being able to wrap her head around reasons given by religious authorities to wear one. The clear divide between gender evoked strong thoughts of rebellion in little Marji's mind.

The book very strongly highlights how religion is one of the strongest forces to control a nation where majority of the population is uneducated. And this desire of control eventually transforms into extremism, putting strict restrictions on everything which could help people socialize and liberalize their thoughts.

Throughout the book you will find Marjane and her liberal family in dilemma of whether Iran under revolution with so many religions boundaries be a good place for Marjane to grow as a liberal women.

Eventually they decided to send her to Vienna, Austria at the young age of 14, so that she gets the right environment to study and develop an open mind. But this decision didn't turn out to be really great for Marjane as she found herself being alienated as an Iranian in this foreign land. She stayed in Vienna through her high school years, often moving from one residence to another as situations changed, and sometimes stayed at friends' homes. Her strong desire to fit in and external validation forced her to consider a humiliating relationship with her boyfriend as the only source of light in her life. Eventually, she was homeless and lived on the streets for three months, until she was hospitalized for an almost deadly bout of bronchitis, which is what forced her to call back home and return to Iran.

However, when she got back to Iran, she again found herself alienated as a foreigner in Iran. This complete loss of identity for young Marji, pushed her to the extent that she tried to commit suicide twice. But, two failed suicide attempts, builds an aspiration for her to live and take control of her life.

Marjane rose out from the lowest of low in her life and gathered herself together again. She took up to study Arts, and found it as a medium to depict her liberal thoughts, in a docile (due to religious restrictions) yet thought provoking manner.

She and her friends at Art school used to gather together after school so that they get a more liberal and open environment to un-furl their thoughts and use Art as an outlet of their rebellion against the new regime.

The most amazing part is to see the extremely evolved thinking and open mindedness of Marjane's family including her grandmother, never letting her give in to any of the societal norms. Even to the extent of promoting Marjane to get out of marriage, when she was not sure of loving her husband anymore. Her mother advising her to take help of therapy, when she saw her struggle with bouts of depression on her return to Iran.

The final scene of Marjane finally leaving Iran to France (on her acceptance into an arts program in Strasbourg) turned out to be most thought provoking for me, where a person is forced to leave their Mother land despite all their love for it for their own good.

She cherishes her final months with her mother, father, and grandmother in the country that she instinctively loves but cannot remain in. The story ends, with Marji at the Tehran airport saying goodbye to her family. This time more prepared and sure of her decision then the last time.

Marjane's life is a symbol to the life of an entire generation of children being brought up in a country constantly under war and revolution. In a country where your future is not determined by your hard work or determination but by the sole destiny of being born in a place of un-rest.